“Karin has proven that she can win tough races. She has taken on and beaten a full arsenal of failed leadership, despite millions in negative ads,” said Davis Communications Director Bo Delp in a statement. “Karin will be an excellent and outstanding addition to this historic and exciting campaign. We are honored that Karin will be joining us as we continue our fight to make the promise of Texas available to all families.”

The Davis campaign for governor, in announcing Johanson’s hiring Sunday, said she has more than 25 years of experience in elections and in the legislative arena.

She was chief of staff and press secretary to U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer and was executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2006.

Johanson has had a focus on turnout, crucial in the effort by Davis, D-Fort Worth, in her expected general election battle against Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Johanson designed an $11.5 million congressional turnout effort at the DCCC and in 2004, as state director in Florida for America Coming Together, put together a statewide turnout campaign, according to Davis’s team.

She has been a strategist for EMILY’s List, which works to elect Democratic women, and most recently has been a principal in the Dewey Square Group.